Posted on: Tuesday, March 12, 2019

2018 was a momentous year for Twin Tastes. City-side Marni got married in a beautifully intimate wedding by-the-sea, and Country-side Kara had twins! This year has been one of incredible love, joy, reflection and growth and has shifted the blog’s inspiration and focus ahead...

Now that Conor and Zoe are 10 months old, it’s been a blast introducing them to different flavors, textures and tastes. Zo is loving avocado, meatballs and mango; Con is loving pears, chicken and yogurt. They both adore bananas and eggs, so I decided to whip up morning pancakes using these two ingredients. The tiny tokens can be further enhanced with a touch of cinnamon, dollop of peanut butter, or sprinkle of diced fruit on top.

2-Ingredient Mini Pancakes

1 ripe banana1 large egg, beatenButter or coconut oi

In a medium bowl, mash the banana with a fork until it resembles a thick puree-like mix, rid of large lumps. Pour in the eggs and stir until combined. The mixture will be very liquidy.

Heat a cast iron or nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, add a teaspoon of butter or a bit of coconut oil to the pan. With a tablespoon or large spoon, dollop a bit of batter on the edge of the pan, and repeat dropping more batter, leaving a couple of inches in between each mini pancake. Cook the pancakes for about 1 - 2 minutes until the edges appear set. With a thin spatula, carefully flip the pancake onto the other side and cook for 1 - 2 more minutes until the bottoms are slightly browned.

Transfer the cooked pancakes to a plate and repeat with the remaining batter. Makes 8 mini pancakes.

By making them larger, parents can enjoy these too! They are easy to freeze, transport to the park, or enjoy right off the griddle. . . Stay tuned for more easy and healthy recipes to fuel these tiny twin tastes with tips and tricks along the way!

Posted on: Tuesday, January 30, 2018

What's the best thing to do while nesting? Baking of course! This past weekend, I was inspired by the days I lived in Boston's North End with Marni. Walking through our neighborhood at any given hour, we were constantly overcome by the
enticing aromas of freshly baked breads and pastries billowing out of
the North End’s famous bakeries. While most people are hypnotized by
Mike’s famous cannolis overflowing with sweetened ricotta,
custard-filled sfogliatelle from Maria’s, or rich and decadent tiramisu
from Modern Pastry, we often opted for a more subdued sweet. We’d pop
into one of these bakeries and reach for a few biscotti. The twice-baked
Italian cookies are crunchy, slightly sweet, and ideal for submerging
into a hot beverage. Now in the Quiet Corner of Connecticut, I often make my own
using a standard base dough with whatever flavorings and enhancements we
have on hand. The bars are a stunning mosaic of colors and textures.Toasted Pistachio, Cranberry, Chocolate Chunk, and Coconut Biscotti

Preheat
oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, whisk together the
flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl, beat the
sugar, butter and orange zest with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add
the eggs, almond extract and combine.

With a wooden spoon,
slowly stir in the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Form the dough
into 2 equal-sized logs, about 6-inches wide and 1-inch thick. Lay side
by side on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 23-25 minutes until lightly
golden and firm. Cool for 20 minutes. Reduce oven to 300 degrees
Fahrenheit. Cut the cooled cookie logs into 1/2-inch slices and lay them
in rows on the lined baking sheet. Cook for an additional 12-15 minutes
until firm and golden.

The
cookie base for this recipe is extremely flexible. Substitute your favorite nuts and dried fruits for endless cookie combinations. For an
added edge, submerge one side in melted chocolate!

Posted on: Monday, December 4, 2017

All of a sudden it’s December and holiday season! Admittedly, Kara and I have been a bit distracted with some engagements and baby news in our family. 'Tis the season to get into high gear and brainstorm ways to celebrate your loved ones...for me in the form of indulgent creations in the kitchen.

Last weekend, I spent way too long at one of my favorite local farms, Wilson Farm in Lexington. I was instantly attracted to the holiday gift section, most notably the array of gingerbread houses, chocolates, and confections, as well as the fine foods section, overflowing with assorted spices and and locally made goods.

With gift-giving in mind, I picked up some sea salt and chili powder, a perfect complement to sweet, decadent chocolate truffles. The classic truffle is a delightfully chocolatey pop and a simple, gourmet gift for family, friends and coworkers around the holidays. For the chocolate lover, the bite is the ultimate concentration of rich and creamy goodness. A sprinkle of spicy sea salt takes truffles up to another level.

Pour 8 ounces of the semi-sweet chocolate chips into a heat proof bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream and butter on medium heat. When the liquid starts to boil slightly, remove from the heat and pour it over the bowl of chocolate. Let stand for a minute. With a spatula, stir the chocolate mixture until smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Let cool in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Remove the ganache mixture from the refrigerator and with a melon baller (or Tablespoon), spoon out balls. With your hands, roll the chocolate into perfect round shapes and place them on a lined baking sheet. After you have formed all of the ganache into spheres, return them back to the refrigerator. While the truffles chill, microwave the extra 4 ounces of chocolate in 20 second intervals. After 20 seconds, stir the chocolate and place the bowl back into the microwave. Repeat this process three times.

Remove the chocolate balls from the refrigerator. With two forks, place the truffles into the melted chocolate. Cover the spheres with the melted chocolate evenly, tapping off the excess with the forks, and place back onto the lined baking sheet. Sprinkle each truffle with a pinch of the reserved chili sea salt blend. Return the truffles back into the refrigerator to completely harden. Makes 20 truffles. If you have leftover chili salt, it adds a wonderful punch to a Margarita glass rim!

Posted on: Thursday, October 19, 2017

Surrounded by apple orchards in the Quiet Corner of CT, I love putting fun spins on the abundance of my favorite fruit in the fall. While Honey Crisps are simply incredible as is, and Granny Smith are tasty with a piece of sharp cheddar or touch of peanut butter, I often find myself with a big bushel of apples and not enough time to eat them fresh.

Applesauce is a great go-to, but if you’re looking for something a little more decadent and sugary, I recommend trying apple butter. While the preparation is similar to applesauce, apple butter is cooked longer, with less liquid and more sugar for caramelizing. The finished product is a thicker, glossier spread with a more concentrated flavor and darker color. Forget fall-scented candles, get this going in the morning and your house will be wafting with the sweet, enticing aroma all day.

You can make the apple butter by roasting the apples in the oven or slowly cooking them atop the stove, but I found that the slow cooker method created the richest, most concentrated results. After cooling and jarring the apple butter, I enjoyed it the next morning slathered on toast with a smear of rich ricotta and sprinkle of cinnamon.

Chop the apples and place them into your slow cooker. Sprinkle the apples with the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and salt, and stir until incorporated. Cover the slow cooker and bake on low for 8 hours. At hour 8, add the vanilla extract and lemon juice, stir, and cook for 1 more hour. Next, transfer the apple mixture to a blender (or food processor) and blend until smooth. Enjoy warm right away, or store in mason jars in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Apple butter is so versatile - warmed and topped over butter pecan ice cream, chilled and drizzled atop pumpkin pancakes, spooned over rosemary roasted pork, slathered on a ham and brie panini - I’ve been adding it to everything!

Posted on: Monday, September 25, 2017

I recently attended a friend’s wedding at Plimoth Plantation and was transported back in time. During the reception, surrounded by the charming timber-framed houses, curious farm animals and booming 17th century gardens, I couldn’t help but think about the history built into the grounds. During the 1600s, the plantation was home to the Wampanoag People and the Colonial English community. Back then, the Pilgrims created recipes according to the season and often planned ahead for the colder, winter months. They often extended the life of their foods through preservation in the form of salting, drying and my favorite, pickling.

After brunch the next morning on our drive through the South Shore back up to Cambridge, I was inspired to pickle some veggies - something I have always wanted to try. I researched a few basic dill pickled cucumber recipes and decided to try pickling green beans too. I gathered my supplies and delved right in!

Dill Pickled Cucumbers and Green Beans

2 32 ouncemason jars with lids

3-4 kirby cucumbers, quartered lengthwise

20-22 green beans, trimmed

1/2 yellow onion, sliced

6 cloves garlic, halved

8 large dill sprigs2 c distilled white vinegar

4 cups water3 T kosher salt3 t granulated sugar2 T peppercorns

1 T mustard seeds

1 t coriander seeds

1 t crushed red pepper flakes

Place the kirby cucumbers in one mason jar and the green beans in the other. Distribute the yellow onion, garlic cloves and dill sprigs among the two mason jars.

After a few minutes, turn off the heat and pour the brine evenly into the two jars. Cover and secure the lids, let cool to room temperature and then refrigerate. Allow the pickles to meld in the refrigerator for 1-2 days before enjoying. The pickles can keep for 1 month in the refrigerator.

A quick accompaniment to a charcuterie platter... chopped up on hot dogs... What veggie to pickle next!?